Railway-switch-operating mechanism.



. BLAGKWOOD.

RAILWAY SWITGH OPERATING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1908. 923,803 Patented June 8, 1909.

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J. P. BLAGKWOOD.

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1908.

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entrain rarnnr JOHN P. BLAOKWOOD, OF ATHENS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO FRANK S. HOOKER, O1 LANCASTER, OHIO.

RAILWAY-SW11CH-OPEBA'IIN G ME CHANISIH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 16, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn P. Brnonwoon, a citizen of the Jnited States,residing at fithens, in the county of Athens and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Railway-Switch-Uperating Mechanism, of which the followis a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of switch operating mechanismand the objects of my invention are to provide improved means forlocking the switch rails of a railway track in an open or closedposition; to provide improved means for automatically closing a switchby the approach oi a train; to provide improved means for resetting theswitch and its operating mechanism by hand and to produce otherimprovements the details of which will be 101"(3 fully pointed outhereinafter. These objects i accomplish in the manner illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which----- Figure 1 is a plan view of asection of railway showing my improved switch operating mechanism inposition for operation, Fig. 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section ofcable clamping member which I employ in the manner hereinafter describedand which is shown in plan in Fig. 1 of the drawing, Fig. 2 is a planview of portions of the track and switch rails showing the position ofthe switch rail operating mechanism when the main track is cleared, Fig.3 is a sectional view on line 00a" of Fig. 1, Fig. 4: is an enlargedview partly in section and partly in side elevation of the lockingmechanism, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the switch rod locking deviceshowing the position of the parts when the locking pin is raised, Fig. 6is a transverse section on line z .z of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a centrallongitudinal section through the trip mechanism, Fig. 8 is a transversesection on line a-a of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on line5-4) of Fig. 2, Fig. 10 is a transverse section on line c-c of Fig. 7,and Fig. 11 is a detail view in perspective of a yoke-shaped body whichI employ in the manner hereinafter described.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represent the main track rails of a rail- 1 15 passes a locking pin 1way and 2 and 3 the tapering switch rails thereof which may be of theusual construction and arrangement. At the side of the track, I providea suitable form of upright switch stand 1 having a pivoted operatinglever 5. FJith the lower end of this lever is pivotally connected oneend of a switch rod section 6, said switch rod section having its innerend portion formed with a squared enlargement 6'"- which enlargedportion is provided with an end socket 6 7 represents a switchconnecting and operating rod section, the outer end of which is adaptedas shown more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawing, to be inserted and heldin the socket 6 of the rod 6.

8 represents an angular lever which at the junction of these arms ispivoted, as shown at 9, to a boss 10 which rises from the upper side ofthe switch rod section 6. The shorter arm of the lever S is pivoted at11 to the outer end of a switch operating rod 12, the latter extending,as shown, beneath one of the main track rails 1 and being suitablyconnected with the switch rail 2. The longer arm of the lever 8 isadapted when the switch rail 2 is closed against the main track rail, tolie beneath a keeper projection 6 on the upper side of the rodenlargement G and the outer end portion of said lever arm is provided,as shown more clearly in F ig. 1- 01 the drawing, with an uprighttubular termination 13 and this tubular member has its upper endspirally inc-lined or recessed as indicated at 1% in Figs. 5 and 6 ofthe drawing. Fixed within the tubular boss or projection 13 is the lowerportion of a vertical tube member 15 which rises above said projection13.

16 represents a cap-like locking member which comprises a casing body 16having an internal horizontal partition 16 near its lower end and havingformed on its outer side and lower end portion a pulley or sheave wheel16 The casing thus formed is adapted, shown, to surround the tube member15, the lower side of the partition 16 bearing upon the spirallyinclined upper surface of the boss 13. Through the tube 7, this lockingpin being adapted, as shown, to extend downward through an opening 6 inthe upper portion of the rod enlargement 6 thence into a verticalopening 7 in the outer end portion of the rod 7. The pin 17 has itsupper threaded end passing through a disk 18 which forms a top for thecap body 16, said threaded pin end having a nut 19 screwed on its outerend. In the upper end of the casing 16 and against the underside of thecap plate 18 is a follower 20 between which and the upper side of thepartition 16 is provided a coiled spring 21, which exerts an upwardpressure on the cap body 16.

Upon an extension of one of the railway ties 22, I provide a leverengaging device or catch, which comprises a fixed plate 23 having atransverse upper side shoulder 2% from which said plate inclinesforwardly and downwardly. The hook-like plate thus formed has its outerend formed with upwardly projecting parallel lugs 23 between which ispivoted the rear portion of a catch member 25, the outer end portion ofwhich has its underside inclined upwardly as shown more clearly in Fig.9 of the drawing. The member in rear of its inclined portion, normallybears upon the upper side of the plate shoulder 24 in which position themember 25 is held by means of a suitable spring 26 which is interposedbetween the rear portions of said members.

In forming the enlarged portion 6 of the rod 6, I provide said enlargedrod portion with two laterally projecting ears :27 within which isinserted the rounded extremity of one arm of a bell crank lever 28, saidlever being pivoted at 29 within an upper side recess 22 of said tieextension. As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, therod section 7, is suit-ably connected with the switch rail 2 from whichit is ex tended to and connected with the switch rail 3.

With one side of the sheave wheel is connected one end of a flexiblecable 30 which is adapted to wind on said wheel and which extendstherefrom in the direction of the length of the track. The outer end ofthe cable 30 is connected with one end of a wire yoke 31 which issurrounded by a coiled spring 32 the outer end of said spring beingengaged by the outturned ends of the yoke arms and the opposite endthereof being engaged by the outturned ends of a yoke 33 which extendswithin the yoke 31. The outer end of the internal yoke member 33 engagesa hook or coupling link 3 1 which in turn engages one end of a cablecoupling or clamping member 35. The cable clamp comprises two elongatedsections such as are indicated at 35, the rear portions of which are, asshown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, riveted together. Each ofthe sections has its outer end portion enlarged to form two clampingjaws 35", and the terminal portion of each of said jaws is so inclinedon its inner face as to produce a flaring mouth 35. The inner surfacesof the enlarged portions of the sections 35 are re cessed as indicatedat 35 this recess being adapted to receive and engage an enlargement 36on the end of a section of cable 36 which is adapted to be embracedbetween the jaws 35 Secured upon tie extensions adjacent to one of themain track rails at a suitable distance from the switch operatingmechanism, I provide a trip housing which preferably consists of twooblong housing sect-ions 37, the forward portion of which as indicatedat 37 is formed with a reduced extension projecting through a slottedopening 33 in the upper side of the housing 37 is the rearwardly turnedforward end of a trip hook or trigger 39. Within the housing, the longerarm of the trip hook is connected at its rear end with the rear end ofthe cable 36 which passes about a pulley or grooved wheel 40 j ournaledbetween the sides of the sections 37, and thence extends forwardlythrough the reduced portion of the housing and terminates in the endenlargement 36 which is engaged by the jaws 35 as hereinbeforedescribed.

On the inner surfaces of the side walls of the housing sections 37 areformed parallel and opposing ribs 37 which incline rearwardly anddownwardly, forming a channel or run-way for guide wheels 411 on theends of a transverse shaft 12 which shaft carries a central roller 43upon which the underside of the trip body 39 bears. In the reducedportion 37 of the housing, I provide a yoke-.

shaped member 1 1 (see Figs. 11 and t) which is slidably mounted in saidhousing extension and which has its rearwardly extending arms, pivotallyconnected with the parallel bars of a link 15, the rear ends of whichare pivoted on the shaft 12. With the yoke 1% is connected one end of arod 16 which extends outward through an opening in the housing extension37 and is connected with the outer arm of the angular lever 28.

In order to describe the operation of my invention, we will assume thatthe parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, thatis, with the switch in the open position or imposition for returning atrain from the main track on to the side track rails, in which positionthe longer arm of the lever 8, will. extend beneath the keeperprojection 6 and the cap 16 is in its lowered or locked position.Assuming that a train is approaching the trip in the direction of thearrow indicated in Fig. 1, and that the pilot or engine of said train isprovided with a suitable projection, said projection will come intocontact with the hook termination of the trip or trigger 39, resultingin pulling said trigger forward with such force as to unwind thepreviously coiled cable 30 from the sheave wheel 16, which unwindingaction not only operates to rotate the cap 16 and thereby raise it onthe spiral incline of the tubular projection 13 until the pin 17 is outof engagement with the rod 7, but to pull the longer arm of the lever 8outward until said lever arm enters the catch formed by the members 23and and drops into engagement with the shoulder 24 thereof. In thisoperation it will be observed that not only is the rod 7 released, butthat a longitudinal movement is imparted to the rod 12, which results inmoving the switch rail 2 out of contact with the adjacent main trackrail and in moving the switch rail 3 into contact with the opposite maintrack rail, thus providing a clear main trackway for the train. The pullon the cable 36 is continued, however, until the flaring aws 35 comeinto contact with the end of the reduced portion 37 of the trip housingand are spread apart thereby suiiiciently to provide a disengagement ofthe enlargement 36 of the cable 36 and the aw members 35". It is obviousthat the spring connection heretofore described between the couplinghook 84land cable will serve to cushion the connected parts against theeffects or a shock or sudden ar which might otherwise be occasioned bythe contact of the locomotive projection with the trip when saidlocomotive is running at a comparatively high rate 01" speed.

It is obvious that the switch rails and trip may be reset after thepassage of a train, to the positions shown in Fig. l of the drawing, byfirst disengaging the arm of the lever 8 from the latch 23, thenreleasing the switch lever 5 and moving the upper end of the latteroutward, resulting in an inward movement of the rod 6 until the opening7 in the rod 7 is again beneath the opening 6 of the enlargement 6 andalso resulting in the longer arm of the lever S swinging until the pin17 is free and permitted to drop through the opening 6 into the opening7 lhe switch lever 5 may now be moved to throw the switch rod (3 outwardresulting in the desired coiling oi the cable 30 on the sheave wheel 16after which the cable 36 may be connected with the clamping jaws of theclamp The last described movement of the switch lever also results inthe drawing of the rods 12 and T and 6 outward and in a closing of theswitch rail 2 against the adjacent rail 1. In this operation it isobvious that the outward movement of the enlargement (5 of the rod 6,will result in such swinging movement of the angular lever 28 as tocause through the rod 4-6 an inward sliding movement of the yoke H and aconsequent upward movement of the wheels 41 and shaft 43, therebyraising the hook termination of the trigger 39 into position for againcontacting with a projection of locomotive pilot.

From the construction and operation described, it will be seen thatreliable and effectire means are provided for automatically closing theswitch which may have been left open through carelessness, therebyaverting a possible accident.

It will be observed that the switch locking and controlling mechanismwhich I have shown and described, is located on what may be termed theleft-hand side of the P track and it is obvious that for use on theopposite side of the track, a similar mechanism might be employed, theonly difference in operation required being that the switch rail 3 beforced away from the main track rail instead of drawn toward the latter.As will be readily understood the only difference in constructionrequired for this purpose, would be the reversal of the lever 8.

What I claim, is:

1.. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with railway trackand switch rails, of a switch rod, a switch rail connecting rod, alocking device detachably connecting said rods, a bell crank leverconnected with said locking device and pivoted to said switch rod, asecond switch rod connecting one of said switch rails with said bellcrank lever, a trip adjacent to the railway track, and connectionsbetween said trip and said rod locking device whereby contact with saidtrip releases said locking device and moves said bell crank lever on itspivot.

2. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with railway trackand switch rails, of a switch rod, a switch rail connecting rod, alockin device detachably connecting said rods, a bell crank leverconnected with said locking device and pivoted to said switch rod, asecond switch rod connecting one of said switch rails with said bellcrank lever, a trip adjacent to the railway track, connections betweensaid trip and said rod locking device whereby contact with said tripreleases said locking device and moves said bell crank lever on saidpivot, and a catch adapted to engage said bell crank lever at thecompletion of the movement of the latter.

3. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with a railway trackand switch rails, of a switch operating rod, a switch connecting rodconnected with one of the switch rails, a bell crank lever pivoted tosaid switch rod and to said switch connecting rod, a vertically movablelocking pin controlled by said bell crank lever and adapted to couplesaid switch and connecting rod sections, a trip adjacent to the maintrack rail adapted to contact with a projection of a locomotive, andconnections between said trip and said switch rod section lock whereby acontact with trip results in a raising of the locking pin and theforcing of said bell crank lever outward, and

means for latching said bell crank in its outward position.

4. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with main track andswitch rails, a switch stand and lever, detachably connected switch rodsections one of which is connected with one of the switch rails, and alocking mechanism for locking said switch rods in position, of a tripadjacent to the main track rails adapted to be operated by a passingtrain, and connections between said trip and said switch rod lockingmechanism whereby an operation of the trip will result in releasing saidlocking mechanism and moving the switch rails to the closed position,said trip comprising a horizontally movable member, a support'for saidmember, inclined ways in which said support travels and a connectionbetween said horizontally movable member and said locking mechanism.

5. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with main track andswitch rails, a switch stand and lever, detachably connected switch rodsections one of which is connected with one of the switch rails and alocking mechanism for locking said switch rods in position, of a tripadjacent to the main track rails adapted to be operated by a passingtrain, connections between said trip and said switch rod lockingmechanism whereby an operation of the trip will result in releasing saidlocking mechanism and moving the switch rails to the closed position,said trip comprising a horizontally movable member, a support for saidmember, inclined ways in which said support travels, and a connectionbetween said horizontally movable member and said locking mechanism, abell crank lever actuated from one of said switch rod sections, and aconnection between the last named bell crank lever and the movablesupport.

6. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with railway trackand switch rails, of a pivoted bell crank lever, a connection betweenone arm of said bell crank lever and one of the switch rails, a.rotative member mounted upon the other arm of said bell crank lever, alocking member adapted to be elevated during the rotation of saidrotative member, and a cable connected to said rotative member andadapted when drawn upon, to rotate said member and elevate the lockingmember to release the bell crank lever and then to impart bodilymovement to said bell crank lever to move the switch rail.

7. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with railway trackand switch rails, of a pivoted bell crank lever, a connection betweenone arm of said bell crank lever and one or the switch rails, a rotativemember mounted upon the other arm of said bell crank lever, a lockingmember adapted to be elevated during the rotation of said rotativemember, a cable connected to said rotative member and adapted when drawnupon, to rotate said member and elevate the looking member to releasethe bell crank lever and then to impart bodily movement to said bellcrank lever to move the switch rail, a manually operable rod, and alocking rod, said locking member serving to connect said rods.

8. A trip for railway switches comprising a horizontally movable member,a casing in which said member is mounted, a sheave mounted in saidcasing, a cable passing over said sheave, one end of said cable beingconnected to the switch actuating mechanism and the opposite end of saidcable being con nected to the horizontally moving member, a support forsaid horizontally moving mem ber, inclined ways carried by the casing inwhich said support travels, a yoke, and a link connecting said yoke withsaid support.

9. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with main track andswitch rails, a switch stand and lever, detachably connected switch rodsections, one of which is connected with one of the switch rails and alocking mechanism for locking said switch rods in position, of a tripadjacent to the main track rails adapted to be operated by a passingtrain, connections between said trip and said switch rod, lockingmechanism whereby an operation of the trip willresult in releasing saidlocking mechanism and moving the switch rails to the closed position,said trip comprising a horizontally movable member, a support for saidmember, inclined ways in which said support travels and a connectionbetween said horizontally movable member and said locking mechanism, abell crank lever actuated from one of said switch rod sections, aconnection be tween the last named bell crank lever and the movablesupport, and means for locking said bell crank lever at its outwardlimit of movement.

10. In a switch operatin mechanism, the combination with main track andswitch rails, a switch stand and lever, detachably connected switch rodsections, one of which is connected with one of the switch rails and alocking mechanism for locking said switch rods in position, of a tripadjacent to the main track rails adapted to be operated by a passingtrain, connections between said trip and said switch rod lockingmechanism whereby an operation of the trip will result in releasing saidlocking mechanism and moving the switch rails to the closed position,said trip comprising a horizontally movable member, a support for saidmember, inclined ways in which said support travels and a connectionbetween said horizontally movable member and said locking mechanjawshaving a shoulder adapted to engage ism a bell crank lever actuated fromone of said lever. 10 said switch rod sections, a connection be- Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature tween the last named bell cranklever and in presence of two witnesses.

the movable support and means for locking JOHN P. BLACKl/VOOD.

said bell crank lever at its outward limit of lVitnesses:

movement, said means comprising jaws be- E. B. CLARKE,

tween which said lever moves, one of said R. L. WOODWORTH.

